PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Tom Di Giorgio Lt Col “Rain, rain, go away, come back some other day.” Never thought we would be complaining about too much rain. And “be careful what you ask for, you may just

get it.” These sayings sound familiar? Well let’s hope the heavy rains we received so far do not result in causing us to suffer hay fever this spring. In a more serious vein, our chapter is experiencing a dilem-ma. While we are enjoying great attendance at our Lun-cheons, we continue to lose membership. You can help. IF you know someone who is a national member but not a chapter member, invite him, or her, to one of our lun-cheons. Recently, Officer members of NAUS were trans-ferred to MOAA. We welcome those members and encour-age them to join and attend our chapter meetings. We could use more volunteers to chair important commit-tees. Currently, we need someone to be the liaison for our surviving spouses. Leni King did an excellent Job as the liaison but had to give it up due to serious health issues. Are you a surviving spouse? Would you like to help oth-ers navigate the quagmire of gov’t bureaucracy in obtain-ing any deserved benefits? Also, our Outreach Program needs a person who is willing To research the community for areas in need. If interested, attend one of our board meetings. We meet on the second Thursday of the month In the Ron Ridley room in PVE. Speaker for our March luncheon will be Col Lorna Griess USA Ret. She will be updating us on the California leg-islation on veteran/retiree issues. In April, we will wel-come once again, Ted Puntillo, our County Veteran service officer. See “Ike” Kostal’s Programs Report in this issue. Check out the “Chaplain’s Time” on page 5.

CHAPTER MEETINGSParadise Valley Estates

Thursday, March 23, 2017Social 1115 hours

Luncheon 1200 hoursSpeaker:

Speaker: Col. Lorna Griess, USA-Ret Ca. legislation

MENUSalad: Apple Leeks & Bacon Salad in a Butter Let-

tuce Cup with a Cider VinaigretteEntrees

~Corned Beef with Mustard SauceServed with Cabbage, Baby Carrots & Steamed Red

Skin Potatoes~Cider Poached SalmonDessert: Irish Bash Cake

Cost $23 Check or cash only

Thursday, April 27, 2017Social 1115 hours

Luncheon 1200 hoursSpeaker:

Ted Puntillo, Solano County Veterans Service Officer

MENUSalad – Wedge Salad – with tomato, bacon

and blue cheese dressingEntrée Selections:

~Marinated & Grilled Chicken with Tomato Coulis & Feta Cheese over Linguini

with Julienne Vegetables~Pan Seared Scallops with Tomato Coulis & Feta

Cheese over Linguini with Julienne Vegetables

Dessert: Peach Melba in a Wine GlassCost $23 Check or cash only

All meals served with coffee/tea, rolls & butter

NOTE: IF YOU MUST CANCEL BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY PLEASE NOTIFY

YOUR CALLER OR PHYLLIS CRAIG.707-425-1332 BEFORE 1700 HOURS TWO DAYS BEFORE

THE MEETING. MEMBERS WHO FAIL TO CANCEL WILL BE BILLED FOR THE

COST OF THE MEAL

MARCH - APRIL 2017

CHAPTER OFFICERSPRESIDENTLt Col Tom Giorgio, USAF-Ret 707-419-4525 Tdigior536@Aol.comVICE PRESIDENT—MembershipVacantVICE PRESIDENT—ProgramsMajor Yaroslav “Ike” Kostal, USAF- Ret 925-640-3502 latsok@att.netSECRETARYLt Col Jacqueline S. Rock, USAFR Ret 707-422-6851jsrockmsn@Yahoo.comTREASURERMarilyn Isherwood 707-759-2075bobish60@yahoo.comIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTMajor Roy L. Hollins Sr. USA Ret. 707-688-4662 roylhollinsssr@sbcglobal.netBOARD OF DIRECTORSCol Earl Heal, USAF-Ret 707-446-1353Healearlniki@att.netCol. William “Bill” Harrison, USA-Ret 707-395-8440Williamharrison285@comcast.netLCDR Paul Kersey, USN-Ret 707-759-3709PCkersey@2Gmail.comMrs. Jeanne Michael 707-428-0180emike@pvepvbbnetMajor Lynn Snyder, USAR-Ret. 925-370-6088snyderlynn8@gmail.com

CHAIRSNewletter Editor:Lt. Col. Tom DiGiorgio USAF-Ret 707-419-4525Tdigior536@aol.comSurviving Spouse Affairs:VACANTOutreach/Sunshine:Nancy DiGiorgio 707-446-3460Personal Affairs: VACANTPublic Relations: VACANTReservations:Mrs Phyllis Craig, AUX 707-425-1332Retiree Activities Rep: VACANTScholarship Committee:Col Earl H. Heal, USAF-Ret 707-446-1353Retired Officers Wives Club RepresentativesNancy Di Giorgio 707-446-3460MembershipMajor Lynn Snyder 925-370-6088Snyderlynn@gmail.comChaplainCol. William “Bill” Harrison, USA-Ret 707-392-8440Williamharrison285@comcast.net

SUNSHINE NOTICEIf you, or someone you know is ex-periencing health issues, and/or need transportation or assistance, please notify our Sunshine Chair.

Nancy Di Giorgio, at 707-419-4525

CHAPTER WEB SITEChapter Home page & scheduled events link:

http://www.solanomoaa.org/For copies of all 2015 and 2016 newsletters:

http://www.solanomoaa.org/NewsletterFor news stories:

PROGRAMS “Ike” Kostal Major USAF- Ret

GUEST SPEAKERSMarch and April 2017

March 23, 2017. This month we are proud to welcome to our midst the Legislative Liaison Officer of the California Council of Chapters- MOAA. Ms. Lorna Griess, a retired US Army nurse and a Vietnam veteran, will speak to us about her role as MOAA legislative liaison officer pushing for the passage of MOAA’s-backed initiatives in California’s Legislative body in Sacramento. There are literally hundreds of separate proposals submitted to the California legislature annually which have a direct bearing on Californian veterans. Many of these get dropped along the legislative process and never enacted into laws. Lorna is one of the key veteran groups’ liaison persons who work diligently pushing MOAAs agenda to the forefront of California’s legislators. Lorna is extremely well suited for this role in the California Council of Chapters. She is a 30-year veteran of the Army Nurse Corps who wrote a book detailing her personal experiences serving in combat in Vietnam. Her book, “2D Surgical Hospital” gives reader insight on medical care in a military setting, the challenges of treat-ing patients in less than ideal circumstances, and the many emotions felt by military personnel from one mo-ment to another. Her book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Xlibris.

April 27, 2017. We are fortunate enough to have Mr. Ted Puntillo- Solano County Director of Veteran Services join us in April. Ted spoke to us the last couple of years and he is back by popular acclaim. His presentation last two years were the best-attended luncheons in 2015 and 2016. Ted will update us on Solano County’s Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and activities, changes to the process he described in his last year’s presentation, and he will address the status of VA in general. It is certain that the Department of Veteran Affairs will undergo major changes with the incoming new Administration in Washington DC, and Ted may be able to give us a preview of what is expected. This will be an interesting, informative, and dynamic presentation; arm yourselves with pertinent questions and come out to learn how you can benefit from VA services in Solano County.

To make a reservation to any of our Luncheons, please contact one of the followingmembers no later than the Friday prior to the luncheon:

Phyllis Craig 707-425-1332 Fairfield-NapaTom Di Giorgio 707-419-4525 Vacaville- Dixon-Davis Tdigior536@aol.comRuby Hardy 707-207-3080 ParadiseValley Estates Buhar@aol.com

2017 Dues are due. If you have a 16 next to your address, you are due. $25 For members, $10 for surviving spouses.Mail to MOAA Treasurer, Box #1443, Fairfield, Ca 94535

MOAA Outlines the Future of Military Health CareAs the leading advocate for military personnel, retirees, and veterans and their families, MOAA joined the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States this week to share our vision of what the future of health care should look and feel like for beneficiaries.Understanding the future evolution of military health care is an important undertaking, and MOAA offered the perspective of the Military Health System's most critical stakeholders: beneficiaries.“Beneficiaries in the future will be increasingly consumer-centric, using health technology more,” said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret), “and they will be interested in new technologies to support health care in the home or in their workplace, for example, telemedi-cine and remote-patient monitoring.”The future health care system will be, and must be, built on the present. The recent passing of the FY 2017 defense act provides our military with a comprehensive and modernized health benefit plan, which supports both medical readiness and beneficiary care. The changes scheduled to be implemented represent a large-scale systemic transformation.Atkins noted that, in many respects, these changes were much-needed, and many have been long sought by both MOAA and its partners in The Military Coalition.From the perspective of the beneficiary, MOAA sees a future system where health care provid-ers collaborate to create a coherent beneficiary experience. Providers will have the flexibility and incentives to innovate and will be rewarded for quality outcomes that reduce costs in the long run. In this system, beneficiaries are actively engaged in their health care decisions and they can easily use their technology for access when, where, and how they want it.“When we focus on medical care in the future, it always needs to be through the beneficiary's lenses,” said Atkins. “What matters to the beneficiary is access, quality, continuity, the referral pro-cess and the associated fee structure. Other industries are proof that a beneficiary-centric approach works. Culture and leadership have the ability to change.” - See more at: http://www.moaa.org/Content/Take-Action/Top-Issues/Currently-Serving/MOAA-Outlines-the-Future-of-Military-Health-Care.aspx#sthash.yo3YSEeJ.dpuf

THE CHAPLAINS TIMEI was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I can’t afford one. So, I’m wearing my garage door opener. You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn’t like me anyway. I was thinking about old age and decided that old age is when you still have something on the ball, but you are too old to bounce it. I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age and call it, “Pumping Rust.”I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease, that’s when your chest is falling into your drawers. I know when people see a cat litter box they always say, “Oh, have you got a cat?” Just once I want to say, “no, It’s for company.”Employment application blanks always ask, who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, “A good doctor.” I was thinking about how people seem to read the bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me, they were cramming for their finals. As for me, I’m just hoping God grades on the curve. “Enjoy your days…and love your life.” Life’s a journey to be savored.” Chaplain Harrison

3rd Annual All-Veterans Day at the Capitol: March 28, 20179am to noon:

Legislative speakers and Legislators of the Year Award presentations.Eureka Room, Basement Cafeteria, California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA.

Noon to 1:00: Lunch2:00 to 2:50: Visit Legislative offices at State Capitol.3:00 to 4:00: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day observance at the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park.

WHAT:Veterans hear from legislators in morning and visit Capitol offices in support of key veterans legisla-tion.

THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY:• CALIFORNIA STATE COMMANDERS VETERANS COUNCIL• MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA-CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF CHAP-TERS• VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA-CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL

WHO’S INVITED:All veterans who are active members of:

• Military Officers Association of America• Vietnam Veterans of America• Member organizations of the CA State Commanders Veterans Council

FOR MORE INFORMATION:CONTACT DANA at: DANA.NICHOL@SBCGLOBAL.NET (916) 492-0550

SOLANO COUNTY CHAPTERMilitary Officers Association of AmericaP.O. Box 1443Travis AFB CA 94535-0443

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